Can Rory McIlroy recover from the disappointment of Augusta?

Apr 18, 2017

With Sergio Garcia the toast of Augusta after winning his first Green Jacket, the wait for Rory McIlroy to complete a career grand slam of the big four events goes on.

The 27-year-old has made no secret of the fact that he is desperate to win the Masters but it was not to be as the Northern Irishman left himself too much to do over the weekend and could only finish in a share of seventh.

That would not be seen as a bad result for many professional but, such is McIlroy’s talent, he will consider it a failure.

The question is, how will he respond to the disappointment in the coming months and when will the wait for a fifth major end?

A glance at history suggests that the Ryder Cup ace is able to put things out of his mind and move on as he roared back from the disappointing of blowing a four-shot final-round lead at Augusta in 2011 to decimate the field a few weeks later when landing the US Open.

That maiden major triumph was followed by a first US PGA crown in 2012 but, after an equipment change, he struggled the following year.

However, he hit back to claim two majors in 2014 plus the BMW PGA Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in a sensational spell of form that saw him top the world rankings, and there is nothing to suggest that he will not be a contender for the remainder of 2017.

He does tend to be a ‘streaky’ player and when he gets hot, there is nobody to touch him in the sport.

Dustin Johnson may be top of the rankings and enjoying the form of his life but McIlroy is a match for the US star when on his game.

Rivals such as Jason Day and Jordan Spieth are not quite at their best and so the door may be open for the world number two to stamp his authority on the sport once again.

His personal life is now in a good place, with marriage to fiancé Erica Stoll looming large on the horizon, and so everything is in place for the talented star to go on and claim many more titles around the world.

The European Tour’s flagship tournament is always a draw for the top stars and McIlroy will be looking for his second title at Wentworth at the end of May while he has yet to win The Players - traditionally thought of as the ‘fifth major’ - and so there is plenty for him to aim at.

After the disappointment of Augusta, there is no question that he will be looking to make a splash at the US Open, which this year takes place at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.

It appears Johnson will start favourite but it still could be worth checking out this selection of golf tips to see all the best odds and markets available.

Should McIlroy fail to secure either the US Open of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale then the year’s final major - the US PGA Championship - looks a great opportunity to get back in the winner’s circle.

It is being held at Quail Hollow, the venue for McIlroy’s first PGA Tour success back in 2010 when he roared back with a 62 on Sunday to lift the trophy.

Having started playing so young, he seems to have been around forever but, turning 28 next month, still has most of his career ahead, and the man affectionately known as ‘Wee-Mac’ will soon have more silverware in the cabinet.

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